United States or Puerto Rico ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Nothing indeed for any of them the girls at least till Lady Fox-Wilton's death, or till they married; but nothing for her, under any circumstances. "Well, why should there be?" Sarah had said. "You know you'll have Aunt Alice's money. She won't leave a penny to us." All very well! The money didn't matter! But to be singled out and held up to scorn by your own father!
"I am going into the garden, and you can come or not as you please." She opened the French window as she spoke and stepped out. "Has mamma heard from that Paris woman yet?" asked Lulu, looking after Hester, who was now standing on the lawn playing with a terrier-puppy she had lately brought home as a gift from a neighbouring farmer much to Lady Fox-Wilton's annoyance.
But there came a lawyer's letter and fifty pounds and that was to be the last, they said. So when Mr. Sabin died, I said I'd come over and see for myself. But I'm ill you see and John's a fool and I must find some one as 'ull tell me what to do. If you're a gentleman living here" she peered into his face "perhaps you'll tell me? Lady Fox-Wilton's left comfortable, I know.
"I understand also," the Coroner resumed, "that Miss Fox-Wilton had left the family in Paris with whom you and Lady Fox-Wilton had placed her, some three weeks ago, and that you have since been in search of her, in company I believe with Miss Fox-Wilton's aunt, Miss Alice Puttenham. Miss Puttenham, I hope, will appear?" The doctor rose
Another guardian had been named in the will, Lady Fox-Wilton's elder brother, and practically everything that concerned the other children was settled by him, in concert with the mother. The Rector never interfered, was never indeed consulted, except on purely formal matters of business.
But I should have cared about him if I had been engaged to him. Well, now, you and mamma have meddled and you'll see!" They were nearing the opening of the lane which led from the main road to North Leigh, Lady Fox-Wilton's house. As she perceived it Hester suddenly took to flight, and her light form was soon lost to view in the summer dusk. The Rector did not attempt to pursue her.
In the midst of the turmoil of these weeks he had been corresponding on Lady Fox-Wilton's behalf with a lady in Paris to whom a girl of Hester's age and kind might be safely committed for the perfecting of her French and music.
Alice was silent a moment. Then she suddenly opened her eyes and spoke in a whisper. "I I was never married. But Hester Fox-Wilton's my child!" The tears came streaming from her eyes. They stood in Catharine's. "You poor thing!" said Catharine brokenly, and raising one of the cold hands, she pressed it to her lips. But Alice suddenly raised herself. "You knew!" she said "You knew!"
Sabin declared to me that having herself independently become aware of certain facts, while she was a servant in Lady Fox-Wilton's employment, that lady no doubt in order to ensure her silence took her abroad with herself and her young sister, Miss Alice, to a place in France she had some difficulty in pronouncing it sounded to me like Grenoble; that there Miss Puttenham became the mother of a child, which passed thenceforward as the child of Sir Ralph and Lady Fox-Wilton, and received the name of Hester.
Word Of The Day